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The deadline for ordering and paying for seed purchases for
the maximum discount usually occurs by mid-November. While most producers are
still busy finishing up harvest, the time to make varietal decisions is pretty
much at hand. Michigan State University
Extension publishes the Corn
and Soybean Variety Trials as soon as possible each fall so that growers can
look at performance data at several locations around Michigan.

Most university agronomists from around the Midwest suggest
that growers look at variety performance at multiple locations (and perhaps
years) to look at the impact of variable weather conditions on individual
varieties. The ability to look at multiple locations in Michigan during 2012
should provide a good look at weather conditions ranging from severe drought to
adequate rainfall. With seed expected to be in shorter supply this year due to
drought conditions in some production areas in the United States, reviewing
performance of “Plan B” varieties may be extremely important. By selecting
varieties that performed well across several "site years," growers
should be able to select well adapted varieties for their farms.

While performance trials can help select well adapted
varieties, it is important to consider the soybean cyst nematode activity and
history in your fields. Twenty percent of growers surveyed attending MSU
Extension field crops IPM and corn and soybean research meetings in 2012 indicated
that they were experiencing some degree of yield loss due to soybean cyst
nematode activity on soybean fields that were planted to a soybean cyst
nematode-resistant nematode variety. If you are experiencing soybean cyst
nematode activity damage on your farm, ask your seed dealer about the source of
resistance for particular varieties. Try to select a well adapted variety that
has a source of resistance other than PI88788. A better option may be to
collect samples through the root masses from impacted areas and submit them for
soybean cyst nematode activity type identification.

Also, consider crop rotation when selecting hybrids and
soybean varieties. Fields planted to continuous crops without rotation will
most likely have increased incidence of diseases. This is particularly true of
continuous corn, which can lead to buildup of stalk, ear and leaf diseases such
as anthracnose, northern corn leaf blight and gray leaf spot. Some generalized
disease resistance guidance may be listed as “stay green” or lodging ratings in
seed company guides. However, if you do a little more digging, most companies will
be able to provide disease specific variety and hybrid ratings.

So, before committing to varieties this fall…

Think about what diseases and pests you had challenges with over
the last couple of years. Talk to your seed dealers and ask them to suggest
varieties that have better resistance to the diseases and pests you have. Don’t
be shy about asking questions on specific disease resistance ratings because fairly
in-depth information is quite often available. Review your options by looking
at varietal and hybrid performance on your own operation and compare these with
independently conducted land grant university yield performance data. This
research gives you the best opportunity to see how soybean and corn varieties
performed under a wide range of growing conditions, pest pressures and
production systems. A little homework this fall can pay big dividends in crop
performance next season.